National and Regional Documents

The Government has published the National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF) March 2012 which sets out the planning policies
for England and how these are expected to be applied.

National

The NPPF explains the relationship between planning policies
and other policies which have an important bearing on issues of
development and land use. Local authorities must take the contents
into account in preparing their development plan documents. The
guidance is also relevant to decisions on individual planning
applications and appeals.

Regional

The South West Regional Spatial Strategy is
due to be withdrawn in the Localism Bill but remains a material
consideration in planning decisions and in the policies and
proposals of the Local Plan.

The Regional Economic Strategy was published
by the South West Regional
Development Agency and has informed the
development of the South Somerset Local Plan. The
agency closed on 31st March 2012.

The South West Observatory draws together research,
resources and analysis from a network of experts across policy
themes and from different local areas in the South West to build a
clearer understanding of the issues affecting people living and
working in this part of the country and to support and inform
policy and decision makers.